The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-06-16
HOWARD'S LETTER.
STRAY NOTES AND TALKS DURING
WALKS ABOUT NEW YORK.
Psculiaritiss Of the Climsts-A Chat with
. Street Car Conductor-Fins Mansions
with Rock shantles for Neighbors-Dis-
PARTIES That Breed Social Disease.

New York is 9 very peculiar place.
Its winters, as rule, are dry, its springs
are late, its summers dilatory, its au-
tumns superb. There are weeks con-
secutive in New York when no we'll
conditioned man need care to wear an
overcoat in the daytime, and there are
but few days in the spring when top
coat is not an absolute essential to COM
fort and health. We are apt to have in
the early days Of June week or 80 OF
intensely hot weather, after which the
chilliness of spring dominates the At
mosphere, and thick flannels and warm
overcoats are gladly resumed.
Then come the dog days." the sultri-
ness Of the latter part Of July and August,
leading up through all the gayeties Of
Coney Island, Long Beach and Long
Branch to the chilly September storm,
which, sending everyone scattering from
his summer resort, terminates In
fortnight of heat SO oppressive that land
lords swear and city men wonder why 1t
is that they did not remember this annual
recurrence of "dog. days" after the 18th Of
September.
From the 1st of October until the 20th
of November we have here what call
New York weather." dry, crisp, clear,
and invigorating in the morning, rather
warmish from twelve to three, from which
time on to twelve or one at night the
seductions of the street, the absolute en-
joyments of the park, and the exhilara.
tions of the drives place New York as
far ahead Of any spot or climate on the
American continent as alpha is ahead of
omega. '-
That is what call the glories Of New
York weather.
What queer people we are, dividing
more and more each year into the rich
and the poor, the former growing richer
the latter poorer
Grumblings, discomfort, mutterings but
little suppressed fill the air.
Rich vulgarity, with its snowy equip
age, four-in-hand, with speeders worth
from $4,000 to $4,000 each, seems to
gloat in its moneyed superiority, while
the fustian jacket and the corduroy
trousers and the hob.nailed shoes tramp
steadily along the line which, jim my judg-
ment, leads sooner or later to q revolution
and monarchy. And the question of to-
day is: "Are they to be tolerated."
On my way home last night rode in
car which left the Astor House OF . mo-
ment or two past twelve.
Riding through Q dark street up town,
the sole occupant Of the car, and noticing
the extreme WEAKNESS Of the conductor
who was standing by the door, said to
him:
"why don't you sit dc ny to which
he replied:
"Who the devil are your I don't
know but you are spotter."
"Spotter?'
eyes, a spotter."
"Well," said I, II don't care whether
you stand or sit. I thought you looked
tired, and would enjoy few moments
rest"
Relaxing little from his cold grim
ness, the conductor said:
$50 would but nine to one, II were
to sit in this car for the next three
blocks, would be reported by some
body, and my place would be vacant in
the morning"
"How long have you been at work
to-day?"
"From half-past five."
"Not half-past five in the morningp
"Yes, half-past five in the morning,
and that means that l left my home at
FIVE minutes to five, took my car from
the depot at five-thirty, will finish this
trip at ten minutes after one, get back to
the depot at half-past one, and be home
about two o'clock"
"Well, how long do you intend to
stand this ?"
"Ive got to stand it; but the time will
come when neither nor anybody else
will stand it,"
Other conversation followed, the tenor
of which convinced me that this intelli-
gent, over-worked, abused and outraged
fellow-creature had the material, mental,
moral and physical, necessary for the
conversation of an honest, well-mesning
man into jealous, vindictive, much-to-
be-dreaded revolutionist. Unless you
are familiar with the lstter-day guise of
New York streets you can have no pos
sible conception of the mighty growth of
the wealth of the metropolis; and, unless
you have that most rare quality Of
thoughtfulness and commiseration for
the so-called slower classes" their con-
dition and their prospects, you can have
no possible adequate conception Of the
terrible condition of penury, Of destitu-
ton and Of squalor in which 80 many
thousands Of New York's citizens are
living.
Broadway from the Battery to Grace
Church 10 lined on either side with ware.
houses, stupendous in inproportion, unique
In design, palatial in accommoda
Its side streets are fit companions for the
magnificent thoroughfare. Our theatres
are no longer simple, commodious places
Of gathering where good acting can b
seen; they are evidences Of what tastt
and skill and lavish expenditure Of money
can provide for the delectation Of thu
vulgar eye. Our churches arc marveli
Of architecture and mausoleums o.
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